Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 58 - Darkness Falls

58 - Darkness Falls

Published: 10/6/2019

***TRIGGER WARNING*** Sexual assault threats, manipulation, bullying, depression, sexual coercion. Hang in there, we are going dark for the next two chapters.

Narcissa Malfoy was at work. Re-shelving and organizing books was calming, relaxing almost. It also gave her a chance to read various titles of books she might want to check out herself. She was currently reading the back of a muggle book about Stockholm Syndrome, which she found really interesting. She might check it out later. She was feeling a little down though she had spent the whole day yesterday with her sister, Harry and her great-nephew. Teddy was as cute as ever, asking for Draco as soon as Harry got there.

"Arry! Where Dray-co!"

"I'm sorry, kiddo. He's a little busy right, now. He couldn't make it," Harry said and the toddler pouted.

"Teddy, behave," Andy said.

"Want coz-in!" he whined.

Narcissa relished the fact that the young boy had latched onto Draco after just one visit. She could tell that Harry was enjoying it, too. He fidgeted with Teddy all through brunch and Teddy could hardly stay in his seat, determined to go flying before his food had settled. Harry got him to wait a half-hour before he took him out on the training broom. He looked like a small Draco, with his blond hair and pale skin. Teddy was a great mimicker.

While they flew and played in the yard, Andy had opened another wonderful bottle of Sauvignon and the alcohol had made Narcissa's tongue loosen. She had a good cry with her as she talked about her younger years with Lucius. How brutal he had been when she embarrassed him. When she actually managed to come to term, Lucius had been so distracted keeping himself out of prison, that he hadn't had the time to beat her or his infant son. She managed to keep Draco away from him for so many years, with some subtle Remember Charms and Forgetfulness Potions, which made him think about other tasks other than Draco.

Unfortunately, Lucius started to require Draco's presence more and figured out that what she was doing. He started drilling Draco on the properisms of the pureblood class and punishing him for forgetting the slightest thing. A backhand for clinking his silverware against the plate, a Stinging Hex if he didn't move fast enough when called, and the Imperius Curse if he misspoke. She had always feared Lucius and wanted to leave, but when he took control of her son... she was trapped. She would never leave Draco with him. She wouldn't dare to try to run... if Lucius caught them... he'd take it out on Draco.

Andy held her and she was glad that she had her sister to talk through it. All summer it had been just her. She only had a small bleak hope that her poor son would be rescued from Azkaban. She was on her last strings when Harry found her leaving the Ministry. Those Department of Magical Law Enforcement guys laughed at her request every time she went, but she had no other recourse. She couldn't even appeal his case, as he had pled guilty. It was so cruel, to cut him off from everyone... from her.

Now, he was taken from her, again. Forced back to school, but it might be beneficial for him. She was determined to know what was happening now, not just what Draco and McGonagall told her. As soon as Harry came back from flying, Andy took Teddy to change into his dinner clothes and make himself presentable. She pulled Harry into the dining room, locking the door with her rosewood wand. Harry lowered his head, apologetic as he told her about the last few weeks. He didn't have good news but, at least, he said it had gotten better.

"He was so... out of it... just zoned out. I couldn't come last week, because I couldn't leave him alone," Harry said.

"I understand. We got your letter. Of course, you had to stay with him."